Combustion chamber structure for fluid fuel burning air-heating furnaces



Feb. 13, 1951 T. J. WEST 2,541,315

COMBUSTION CHAMBER STRUCTURE FOR FLUID FUEL BURNING AIR HEATING FURNACES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3, 1946 9m Rm QNV %m H Wm m I 0% mm mm 9% m NM MN NW NW mm INVENTOR: l'homas J 7125' BY T. J. WEST' COMBUSTION CHAMBER STRUCTURE FOR FLUID FUEL BURNING AIR HEATING FURNACES Feb. 13, 1951 Filed July 5, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I INVENTOR: .Thonm J Mest,

JVfkrney.

Feb. 13, 1951 'r. J. WEST 2,541,315

COMBUSTION CHAMBER STRUCTURE FOR FLUID FUEL BURNING AIR HEATING FURNACES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 3, 1946 NVENTOR.

BY Tho/1120511 Wesi' Patented Feb. 13, 1951 COMBUSTION CHAMBER STRUCTURE FOR FLUID FUEL BURNING AIR-HEATING FUR NACES Thomas J. West, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor of forty per cent to Ellsworth L. Riling, Wilkins burg, Pa.

Application July 3, 1946, Serial No. 681,220

This invention relates to furnaces or air heaters, and more particularly to a fuel gas burning, combustion control, air heating and distribution unit for such apparatus. It has for one of its objects to improve generally upon such apparatus.

Another object is to produce a simple yet practical and highly efficient, unitary fuel gas burner and control assembly capable of being applied to an ordinary hard fuel burning furnace or air heater of conventional type and necessitating merely the removal of the grate element or elements and other readily removable parts so as to establish free open communication betw-en the fire pot or box and the ash pit or chamber therebeneath, and at the same time minimizing other, if any, alterations or changes in the structure of the furnace or heater itself.

Claims. (Cl. 126-416) A further object is to provide for contractible I and expansible adjustment of a part of the unitary assembly which is inserted in the fire box of the furnace or air heater so that the unit is applicable to furnaces or heaters having fire pots of different sizes, particularly as to diameter, such as for example, those varying from 14 to 28 inches in diameter or in other varying proportions.

Still another object is to attain a more practical and thorough combustion of the fuel gas and a more effective heating of air and better working distribution of the same.

Other objects and advantages to be attained will hereinafter more fully appear in the following description.

Practical but non-limiting embodiments of the invention are exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional and elevational view illustrating one working adaptation of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view mainly in top plan and in partial section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail plan View of one of the segmental members or butterfly plates of the dished or upwardly flared, annular baflie or partition element of the unitary assembly;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail plan view of the head cover plate of the burner cabinet or chest box of the unit;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of an air heating apparatus in which there is a modified adaptation of the invention;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a section taken on or about the line '|-'I of Figure 2, illustrating one manner of assembling the segmental members or butterfly plates of the annular baffle or partition; and

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing a modified assembly arrangement of the segmental members or butterfly plates.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the unit shown in Figures -1 to 4.

Referring now first more particularly to Figures 1 through 4, and 7 and 8, the numeral I0 designates the lower portion of the shell or casing of a conventional furnace or heater. This casing or shell til may be that of a gas fired type, usually cylindrical in horizontal cross section and hollow and plain relatively smooth walled throughout, or, if it be of a hard fuel (such as coal) type,

the grate element or elements usually provided.

below the fire pot or box and between the latter and the ash pit or box is or are removed, leaving a freely open and uninterrupted communication between the fire box and the ash pit.

The unitary assembly of the present invention has its inner or head end portion located in the lower part of the furnace or heater so that combustion of fuel takes place effectively within the normal fire pot portion of the furnace or heater, and the cabinet or chest box portion proper of the unit is projected outside the furnace or heater through the usual door opening of the ash pit or box portion thereof. That is to say, communication between the ash pit or box and the fire pot or box is uninterrupted except as to a specially provided annular baflle or partition element on the head end portion of the cabinet or chest box of the unit which is located Within the casing or shell it of the furnace or heater.

The unit of the present invention, as shown,

comprises an elongated, rectangular, horizontal cabinet or ChiSt box H, the head or inner end portion 52 of which is located within the lower or base portion of the furnace or heater shell :a (see Figure 1). A cover plate It is provided on the head or inner end portion 52 of the cabinet or chest box l I within the furnace or heater shell, and, preferably, additional cover plates l4 and it are provided on the cabinet or chest box outside the furnace or heater shell. These cover plates it, Hi and it are made detachable, removable and replaceable, at will, in any desirable or approved manner (not shown in detail) so that access can be had to the interior of the cabinet or chest box when necessary.

The cover plate is at the inner or head end of the cabinet or chest box H is provided with a circular opening l6 surrounded by an upstanding annular flange or collar IT; This opening it is of substantial diameter and projected upwardly and axially therethrough is a conventional gas burner head 58 (See Figures 2 and 9).

The burner head I 8 may be of any suitable type and as the same, of itself alone, is not of the essence of the invention, there is no detail illustration thereof in the drawings. Suffice it to say that the burner element is is connected by an elbow coupling 19 to a conventional burner gun 20, which latter is supported on the bottom of the cabinet or chest box II by a bracket element 2!, said burner gun 26, as thus supported, in turn supporting the burner head l8. The flared outer end portion 22 of the burner gun 2ll is provided with the usual adjustable air inlet openings 29a and communicating axially with said gun 20 is a gas supply pipe or nipple 2,3. This pipe 23 has incorporated therein a controlling cut-off or throttle valve 24.

The regulated supply of fuel gas is taken centrally into the burner gun 20 where it is mixed in the usual manner with air taken into the gun through the apertured flared end thereof, whence the thus created combustible mixture is delivered through the elbow coupling l 9 to the burner element proper I8, where it is ignited by means such as a pilot burner 25, the details of which will be described later on.

Surrounding the circular flange ll of the head cover plate I3 is an annular series of relatively small rectangular apertures 26 in said plate (see Figure 4). These apertures 26 are provided to receive, with a limited freely swingable and comparatively tight fit therein, relatively small lug eXtensions 2i formed at the smaller inner ends of segmental, substantially fan-shaped members or sectors 28, which latter, when assembled in radial and marginally meeting cooperative relation, form an annular dished or upwardly flared bafile or partition (see Figures 2 and 9) supported on the head plate It, closely surrounding the circular flange ll of the plate at the inner ends of said members 28, with the outer ends of said members 28 resting in close contact with the inner face of the annular wall of the furnace or heater casing or shell [0.

The form, arrangement, adjustability and conformability of the dished or upwardly flared bafi le or partition produced by the assembly of said segmental sector-shaped members 28 is an important and essential feature of the present invention. This bafile or partition not only closes communication annularly of the aforesaid burner opening !6 at the head end of the unitary fuel and combustion control assembly of the in-v vention, between the lower or base space of the furnace or heater and the combustion chamber thereabove, but'the same is contractibly and ex-v pansibly adjustable to fit and be placed workably in furnace or heater casings or shells of different interior diameters to form substantially the bottom of the combustion chamber.

The respective segmental or fan-shape platelike members 28 may be made in sets, each member of a predetermined standard size. In assembling the members 28 to produce the dished or upwardly flared bafile or partition, the lug extensions 2! of the members, as just above noted,

7 although fitted comparatively tightly in the an-.

in Figure '7, or the members may be alternately placed in offset parallel planes as shown in Figure 8. In either case, the members are usually made to overlap to an appreciable extent along their radial margins, which overlap, of course, will vary when the members 28 are applied in a baflie or partition assembly in furnaces or heaters of different fire pot or box diameters. So, too, it is obvious that the set of members 28 may be made of a predetermined unitary or standard size to fit a certain size of fire pot or box in some cases and in which event the members may meet in closely abutting radial marginal contact instead of overlapping.

It is further noted that the angularity 0f dip in the dished effect of the produced annular baflle or partition will vary somewhat in the installation in fire pots or boxes of different diameters where a set of certain standard sized memhere 23 are used. So, too, the meeting edges of the members 28, whether overlapped or just marginally abutted, may or may not be cemented, welded or otherwise suitably fastened to each other after being assembled in their working position, as illustrated in Figures 1 2, '7 and 8. Moreover, in some cases, the entire bafiie or partition assembly, especially if the members 28 are made of relatively thin metal, may be entirely coated with a suitable cement or an approved refractory material. So, too, it is noted that the plate-like members 28, instead of being made of metal, the same may be molded or otherwise formed of a suitable refractory or fire resistant material.

Supported at a working distance above the burner element i8, by uprights 29, is a horizone tally disposed flame spreader 33 having a flat circular top and a convex underside (see Figure 1). The flame spreader 30 itself and the uprights 29 are obviously made of fire resistant material, either entirely of such material or else of metal and covered protectively with such material.

The upper part of the furnace or heater it above the aforesaid bafiie or partition and the flame spreader may be of any desired or conventional form. Sumce it to say, that this upper part, of the furnace or heater is. obviously pro;

vided with an outlet for the products of combustion (not shown) As shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 9, the unitary combustion and fuel control assembly of the present invention includes, in addition to the several aforesaid parts, certain correlated, associated and cooperative parts, all contained within the cabinet or chest box if and to. be now described.

Communicably attached to the outer end of the gas supply pipe or nipple 25? is a conventional electrically operated and controlled valve 3|, preferably of the solenoid type-and the same, of itself, not being of the present invention, no detailed illustration thereof appears in the accompanying drawings. This valve Si. is opera atively connected by a wire line. 32 to a suitable electrical transformer or other suitable source of electrical source of electricity 313.

Leading into the electrical valve 3| is a gas supply pipe or nipple 34 from a conventional gas regulator 35, and leading into the regulator 33 is a gas supply pipe 36 from an outside supply pipe 31, the latter leading from a source of gas supply (not shown).

By the foregoing, it is apparent that a regulated and controlled supply of fuel gas is directed into the burner gun 20, which latter, of itself, is of any suitable conventional type and receives through suitably provided air inlets 26a a regulated and controlled amount of air which is mixed with fuel gas within the element 2! and the produced combustible mixture is delivered to the burner head proper i8, whence the fuel is ignited by means associated with the burner head I8, as will be presently described more fully.

It is here noted that any suitable provision may be made for admitting and controlling a supply of outside air to the cabinet or chest box H. As shown, suitable louvers or inlet openings 38 are provided in the outer end wall of the cabinet or chest box H. An opening, having an openable and closable door 39, may also be provided in one or more of the top cover plates M or iii of the cabinet or chest box, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. It is further obvious that other suitable air intake and control openings may be otherwise and elsewhere provided in the cabinet or chest box I l.

Ignition of the fuel mixture at the burner head 58 may be accomplished by any approved means and in any suitable manner. However, for exemplification, a conventional pilot burner 25, as hereinbefore mentioned, may be provided as illustrated more or less schematically in Figures 1 and 2. This element 25 is supplied with gas through a small-diameter by-pass pipe 40 coupled as at H to a conventional valve 42 at a lateral outlet from the electrical gas control valve 8!! (see Figure i). This pilot burner 25 may be lighted so as to burn continuously with a small flame, possibly with automatic control provision for varying the intensity of its flame from time to time during operation of the burner element proper is, or provision may be made for lighting the pilot burner only at the time of starting ignition of the fuel from the burner head proper H3. So, too, as far as the present invention is concerned, an electrical or other suitable sparking device may be obviously provided for igniting the fuel gas at the burner element proper instead of using a pilot burner.

For mere exemplification of an operative arrangement, there is illustrated more or less schematically an electrical control unit 43 having a suitable wire connection 44 with the transformer or electrical source of supply 33. A conventional operative and control connection 45 is provided between the control unit 43 and the pilot burner 25 (see Figure 1).

From the foregoing explanation, it is apparent that a unitary fuel gas supply and combustion control assembly is produced which is not only practical and efficient for installation and use originally in a furnace or air heater of a specially designed structure, but it is also readily installed in any conventional furnace or air heater, even one previously provided and adapted for the burning of hard fuel such as coal and the like, in which latter cases it is only necessary to remove the grate element or elements and other readily removable parts of the furnace or heater between the fire pot or box and the ash pit or box, and that, after installation, the unitary assembly of the present invention is easily o'p'er ated and controlled and its operation is carried on economically as well as with a high degree of eflicien'cy and utility. 7

Not only does the construction and arrangement of the unitary assembly of the present invention lend itself to the ease and speed of installation and removal from the furnace, but the baffle partition retains the generated heat in the combustion chamber, and at the same time free circulation of air is allowed in the ash pit area, the tendency of which is to keep all elements in the cabinet or chest box at a lower heat level and thus promote longevity of the entire unit.

In Figures 5 and 6, a modified exemplification of the invention is illustrated. In this modification, a special type of air heating apparatus is disclosed. As shown, the apparatus comprises a hollow housing or shell 4% heating chamber 3'! and intake and supply chamber 48.

Within the chamber 41 is a furnace and air combination 49. This unit as. as shown, comprises an upright, generally cylindrical, inner heater shell as having a rounded crowned top wall 5! and a tapered and contracted lower portion 52 with a depending annular collar or flange 53' which. rests upon and is secured supportedly and. steadily on the top plate or wall of a cabinet or chest box if of a unitary gas supply and combustion assembly substantially identical with. that hereinbefore described except as to the said.

annular b-aifle or partition element including the parts 28. In this modification is included the burner head is, burner gun 2t, cut-off or throttle valve 2 electrical valve 3|, gas regulator 35" and the gas supply pipe 3?, all of which parts are: indicated schematically in Figure 5. Certain obvious other parts are not shown in Figure 5,

In this particular modification, the flame spreader 38, as supported by the uprights 29 on the inner or head end portion i2 of the cabinet or chest box H, is projected above the burner element It and to a horizontal plane just approximately adjacent to that where the cylindrical wall 5c of the furnace and heater unit i9 begins to taper downwardly as at 52. The spreader as thus spreads the flame from the burner element is annularly, thereby thoroughly heating the cylindrical wall 58. The products of combustion created in the upper chamber portion 54 are discharged and conducted on" through the outlet pipe 55, which latter may or may not be provided with a valve or damper 56, as desired.

The cylindrical furnace or air heater shell 5d is formed by the inner juxtaposed sides of an annular series of vertical tubes 5? open at their top ends, as at E8, and at their bottom ends, as at 59. These tubes 57 are made of metal or material of high heat conductivity and they are welded or otherwise integrally held together. The provision and arrangement of said tubes 51 is such that the same become heated from the heat developed within the combustion chamber of the furnace or air heater unit 49, and air from the lower portion of the heating chamber 47 is drawn into the open lower ends of said tubes 51, heated in the tubes to a high degree and discharged from the open upper ends of the tubes.

The tubes 5?, in their annular arrangement, are in close contact with each other, and thus afford a greater radiating surface in the passage through the combustion chamber thus formed by containing a major a separate smaller air senses 7, the tubes. This gives a. maximum exposed sur face to heat the air passing to the exit;

A. hot air: outletl'fiil is provided in the topwa-ll of the heating chamber 4?. In the lower part of the. division wall 6t between. the heating chamber 4:! and: the cold air intake: chamber 4'8 is a cold air inlet 624.

Communicating with the. cold air inlet opening, 52: is the discharge nozzle 53 of a conven tional' blower element 54; This element 64 is driven by a directly. associated electrical mot-'1 G5, both elements being obvious and merely shownmore or less schematically;

Outside. air is taken intothe cold air cham ber 48 through an inlet opening it provided-in thev top wall of the chamber. Located in the cold air chamber 58: between the) air inlet opening and the blower s4 is an air filter iii. This filter may be. of any conventional form. As shown, it is of a hollow conical form withiits apexsubstantially coincident with the vertical axis of the chamber 58.

In operation of the apparatus shown. inFigures5- and 6; the cold air is drawn into the shamber 48, there filtered, and then blown intothe heating chamber 31;

opening'fiil.

The provision of the annular series of openended tubes Elin the furnace or heater shell 59 is an important essential feature of the present invention in connection with the: fuel gassupply'and combustion control elements, in

that a more efficient and thorough heating of" air is attained with an economical operation of. the

apparatus.

While the illustrated exemplifications are practical adaptations ofthe' invention, considerable further modifications and changes are contemplatedwithin the spirit and scopeof the "ap.-' pended claims. The invention, therefore; is not" limited-"to thespecific construction and arrange ments' shown;

What is claimed is:

top wall and adjacent said flange,- an upwardly flared bailie partition surrounding said opening:

The air in. thechamber il'- is'heated by heat radiatedfrom the combustion chamber. to and by passing through the tubes 5? beforebeing discharged through the outlet menacing upwardly and outwardly with itsupper edge in contact with the inner wall of the casing to form a firebox, the bafiie partition comprising a plurality of adjoining segmentalsector shaped plates having lugs at their lower ends fittin said slots, a burner head and tip located and supported in the inner end of the closure, the burner tip being centrally disposed in the opening in the closure and extended" into the fire box, a name spreader located co-axially above the burner tip; and cooperative fuel gas and air supply and controlling means for'producing an inflammable fuel mixture, all said means being located within the closure;

2'. A furnace asset forth in claim 1, wherein the sector-shaped'bafile plates are'of uniform size and overlap at their edges to complete thepartn tion.

3. A furnace asset forth in claim 1, whereinanotherat their edges to complete partitions of various diameters and heights.

4'. A'furnace of the type described, comprising a casing, a closure extending into the lower portion of said casing and formed with anopening in its top, said opening being centrally disposed with reference-t0 the casing, the closure top having a seriesof' slots formed around said opening, a series of segmental sector-shaped plates, each plate having a lug at its lower end fitting in one of said slots; the'side edges of'said plates'overlapping and their upper edges-engaging the inner wall of the casing'to'di'vide said casing and form a-fire box, and a burnerhea'd and ti'p-c'en trally disposedinsaid opening and extending into the fire box.

5. A-furnace asset forth in claim 4, wherein a'fiange surrounds theo'pen'ing in the-closure; and

wherein the 1 lower edgesof the sector-shaped plates engage the flan'geand thebottom edge of the said plates are supported onthe top of the closure.-

THOMASJ; WEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are'of rec'ord' mthe" file ofthis" patent:

U-NiTED- STATES PATENTS 

